Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland: Retired Air Force General Vanishes from His New Mexico Home, Leaving Phone and Glᴀsses Behind – Ties to NASA and Classified Aerospace Work Fuel National Probe

On February 27, 2026, 68-year-old retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland walked out of his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home on Quail Run Court and disappeared. He left behind his cell phone, prescription glᴀsses, wearable devices, and other personal items. His wife, Susan Wilkerson, reported him missing hours later, telling a 911 dispatcher she feared he had “planned not to be found.” A .38-caliber revolver, holster, wallet, hiking boots, and red backpack were also missing.

An experienced hiker and avid outdoorsman, McCasland had mentioned “mental fog” in recent weeks and had an unspecified medical condition. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office issued a Silver Alert the next day. Searches by local teams, New Mexico Search and Rescue, and the FBI have continued for more than three months with no trace found. An unseasonably warm spring has complicated efforts.

McCasland’s career adds gravity to the case. He commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (long ᴀssociated in public lore with UFO/UAP investigations) and later served as director of technology at Applied Technology ᴀssociates. His work involved classified aerospace and propulsion programs with indirect NASA and defense-industry overlaps.

As part of the broader 2026 federal review of at least 11 missing or deceased scientists with nuclear/rocket access, McCasland’s case remains active. Authorities stress there is no confirmed evidence of foul play or a connection to his professional background, though speculation persists online. His wife has pushed back against misinformation linking his work to the disappearance.

McCasland would be 68 today. The Albuquerque home where he left his phone and glᴀsses, and the surrounding Sandia Mountains, continue to hold the answers. The investigation remains open as of June 2026.